Slide member  fob calculating machines



Nov. 23 1926. I

L.D.ROBERTS SLIDE MEMBER FOR CALCULATING MACHINES F ed June 23, 1926 ATTACK/NM" Patented Nov. 23, 1926.

hair-En stares LORENZO D. ROBERTS, OFj-SHAWA'NO, WISCONSIN.

SLIDE MEMBER FOR CALCULATING MACHINES.

Application filed June 23, 1926. Serial No. 118,035.

This invention relates to in'iprovements in calculating machines, the particular Object being to improve the slide or slide men'ibers, by which certain arithmetical calculations are carried out.

Other objects and advantages appear in the following specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, in which-- Figure 1 .is a plan view illustrating a general arrangement of the calculating machine in which-the improved sliding member is employed,

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Figure 1, showing the improved slide or sliding mem- 'ber inplace,

"Figure 3 is a detail perspective view of the slide alone, 7

Figure a is a detailwperspective view of the enlarged end or head of the tablet employed in connection with the slide.

Reference may be had to my patent for calculating machines 917,134 of April 6, 1909, and for a calculator 990,?79-01 April 25, 1911, the former disclosing the slide or sliding member to which the improvement is directed, with some particularity.

Briefly describing the calculating machine, 10 represents a base or frame consisting of a :ectangular shallow box, preferably 1 or less in depth, open at the front or face thereof and having a hinged end 11 at the ght carrying e stay bar 12 which is provided with guide pins13 fitting incorresponding openings in the end 11 andwhich is adjusted in its position by means of set screws let threaded in the end. 11 and bearing 'th "eon.

The 'adjustability of the stay bar 15 to enable it to bear against the ends of a series of narrow stripsforming guides 15, which hear at their other ends against the left end of the frame and which alternate with a series of shorter strips forming slides 16, the stay bar thus preventing the longitudinal movement of the guides 15 while the slides 16 are free to he moved between the guides from one end to the other of the frame. To afford a ready means for moving the slides each is provided with. a loop or knob 21 at its right hand end.

It is with the slides that the invention is concerned and the description is therefore confined to one of them, they all being alike; The slide 16 is composed of a bar usually of wood having enlargements 17 and 18 rounded wood in place.

along onejof 'the longitudinal edges (1 3), the former servingto strengthen the around a recess formed in'the opposite edge. The recess is composed of a slot 19 which terminates in a rounded transverse opening 20.

That-portion of the slide at the left of the foregoing recess may be 'known as the tablet end inasi'nuch'as it is upon this end that the tablet rests'when applied. Inasmuch as the tabletsare subject "to substitution and change to meet the requirements of the'calcuialtin'g machine the arrangement is such that I both can be ma'de expeditiously.

'At one end the ta'blethas an enlarged head 4 the tablet end, down over the extremity of the slideto a place underneath where it is first impaled upon a pin 1.4 and then held by a metallic or other clip This clip -1s at present arranged to swing upon a stud or pivot 26, but the clip may be arranged otherwise.

It upon the tablet 22 that the rate per cent is marked. This is subject to varia- 'tion,.and the tablets aretherefore capable of hemp; removed from the slide and replaced as already stated. At suitable place along the upper edge of the slide a slight depression 27 receives a suitable marker 28 bearing a numeral which coacts with one of the columns of'the machine. The formerly 'de scribed enlargements 17 and 18 are made by cutting away unnecessary portions of the bar on the underside or edge. It is in the cut-away portion at the extreme left (Fig. 3) that the pin 24 and clip are housed. The enlargements 17 and 18 provide bearings which rido upon the floor of the box (Fig. 2).

It may also be noted that the portion 17 is larger than the portion 18. The latter acts in the capacity of a fulcrum for it is readily seen that a downward pressure upon the slide in the vicinity of the knob or loop 21 will in turn produce downward pressure on the remote extremity of the slide, keeping such extremity down and the enlargement or bearing 17 in engagement with the bottom of the boX. The value of the particular manner of mounting the tablet 22 serves to eliminate hooks, clamps, etc., on the upper side. Theupper side is therefore left free and unobstructed. The clip 25 is practical- 1y full width of the slide; the slide is movable between the guide bars 15, these contacting the slide at each side. This circumstance insures that the clip 25 shall remain in holding position, it being impossible for the clip to accidentally move out of position over the end of the tablet 22 with the result of the possible release of the tablet.

It is in the latter respect, namely, concerning the clip 25 and guides 15, that there exists a combination between the slides 16 and the guides. The function of the latter, in addition to keeping the slides separated, is to confine the clip 25 so that its grip upon the extremity o1 the tablet 22 may not be lost. Such combination exists also in con-- nection with the enlarged head 23 of the tablet, for it is by means of the adjacent guides 15 that said head is prevented from slipping out edgewise from the recess 19-20.

lVhile the construction and arrangement of the improved calculating machine slide is that oi a generally preferred form, obviousd changes may be made i modifications without departin from the spirit of the in vcntion or the scope'oi the claims.

I claim 1. A slide member for the purpose described comprising a bar having a recess formed transversely of one edge, a tablet consisting of a flexible strip being applicable to the bar and having an enlarged head inscrtible in the recess, enlargements formed on the opposite edge providing bearings for the slide and being produced by cutting away portions of the slide, and means situated in one of the cut-away portions by which the remaining end of the tablet is gripped and held.

2. A slide member for the purpose described comprising a bar having a transverse recess formed at one longitudinal edge, a tablet applicable to the bar having an enlarged head insertible in the recess, and enlargements on the opposite edge of the bar providing bearings for the slide, one of said enlargements being situated opposite to the recess, thereby strengthening the bar at an otherwise weak point.

3. A slide for the purpose described com prising a bar having a transverse recess at one edge being composed of a slot and a rounded transverse opening, a tablet com posed oi a flexible strip having an enlarged head at one end insertible in said recess, said tablet being drawn over the adjacent end or the bar, enlargements formed on the opposite edge of the bar by cutting away portions ot the bar, one oi? said enlargements being situated opposite the recess to str ngthen the bar, means situated in one the cut away portions in which the tablet drawn over said end is entailed, and means also situated in said cut-away portion for gripping the extremity of the tablet to hold it in the entailed position.

4:- A slide for the purpose described comprising a bar having a recess at one edge, said recess being composed of a transverse slot and an enlarged opening, a tablet composed of a flexible strip applied to the bar having an enlarged head at one end occupying said opening, said tablet extending out at the slot, enlargements formed on the opposite edge of the bar by cutting away portions of the bar, means situated at one of the cutaway portions upon which the tablet is impaled after being brought around the adjacent end of the bar, and a movable clip also situated in said cut away portion for gripping the extremity of the tablet and holding it in place upon the impaling means.

5. In a calculating machine, the combination of a slide, an indicia-bearing tablet applied to the slide, revoluble clip by which one end of the tablet is held, and guides at the sides of the slide defining a passageway for the slide and confining the clip to prevent disengagement thereof from said tablet.

LORENZO D. ROBERTS. 

